Clutch plate



April z, 1946.y Y. BLAZEK ET AL 2,397,642

'A CLUTCH PLATE l Filed March 20, '194s IN VEN TORS. .7b/m ).//aze/f andGilbert E Sears mwa/w Patented pr. 2, 1946 CLUTCH PLATE .lohn Y. Blazek,Bedford, and Gilbert E. sears,- Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to LempcoProducts, Inc., Bedford, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March20, 1943, Serial No. 479,864`

Claims.

This invention is directed to clutch plates, but has reference moreparticularly to clutch plates having improved means fordampeningtorsional vibrations between driving and driven members through whichtorque is transmitted by a friction clutch.

It is recognized by those skilled in the clutch art that afbrupt orsudden changes in the torque of the driving member from that of thedriven member are a cause of unnecessary Wear and tear not only to theclutch and the driving mechanism, but also to the driven mechanism.` Inorder to cushion or dampen these differences in torque which result invibrations or jerks, springs have been incorporated into the drivingelement of the clutch platewhich also includes numerous plates, spacers,rivets and pins as is wellknown in the motor vehicle iield.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a clutch platesuitable for use in motor vehicles, such as pleasure cars, trucks bussesand the like, having novel and improved means which will eiectivelyabsorb torsional vibrations of slight magnitude and effectively reducetorsional vibrations of great magnitude.

A secondary object of the invention is to accomplish the primary objectwith a reduction in cost over the cost of corresponding clutches of thetorsional vibration dampening type heretofore known and also withsimplication of the manufacturing process.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and partiell-`larly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain structure embodying theinvention, such disclosed structure constituting, however, but one ofvarious structural forms in which the principle of the invention may beused.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of our torsional vibrationdampening means;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, along the line 2-2-`of Fig.v l,showing the elements of Fig. 1 in assembled relation in a clutch platesuitable for use in a motor vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2,and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one element of the clutch plate of Fig.1.

Referring now to the drawing and more specilically to Fig. 2 thereof,there will be seen an assembled clutch plate adapted for use in modernmotor vehicles and having incorporated therein the features of thepresent invention. The assembled clutch plate in general includes ahubbed element, indicated generally by the reference character H, havinga radially extending peripheral flange F on both sides of which areannular plates P which carry flat friction rings R for drivinglyengaging a flywheel or the like.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 4, the hubbed element H will be seen tocomprise a rotatable hub portion l0 having suitable means such assplines Il for drivingly engaging a shaft. Integral with or otherwisesecured to the hubbed portion is the flange F which is provided with asuitable numlber of evenly spaced openings i4, there being sixsuch'openings shown. Within each ofy such openings is resilient materialin the form of two pieces of rubber I6 and I1 and a socket made up oftwo rigid elements I8 and I9 each of which has a central section 2|substantially semi-circular and flat radially-extending arms 22, one ofsuch elements being clearly seen in Fig. 4. occupy the openings and aremanually or otherwise insertable as long as sufficient snugness ispresent and undue freedom of movement of the socket with respect to the-flange F is eliminated, the sockets being movable only upon deformationof one of the pieces of rubber le or I 1. The pieces of rubberpreferably terminate at the axial faces of the ange and thus areretained against axial movement not only by their own deformativeforces, but also by the plates P. The sockets preferably extend beyondthe axial faces of the ange and project into opening of the plates P, asis clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and are retained against axial movementnot only by the deformation of the rubber, but also by retaining discs25 and 26 which contribute to the general rigidity of the entire clutchplate. Suitable keys 28, such as bolts. pins or rivets, retain the discsand snugly pass through the sockets. t

It will be understood that both the rubber and the sockets may terminateat the axial extremities of the openings I4, with or without theelimination of the discs 25 and 26, and in such event the keys 28 wouldbe the only elements interconnecting the plates P and the assembledhubbed element as the latter is seen in Fig. 1.

We prefer to employ more rubber for driving the sockets in their normalor frontward direction than we employ for driving the sockets in theirreverse direction, although we are aware The rubber and the socketsentirely that the rubber would cushion torsional vibra,-

tions in either direction as long asv rubber is on both sides of thesockets. Obviously rubber on only one side would cushion in only onedirec- Since these arms extendsub-` substantially in their entirety andnot merely locally. y ized or otherwize secured to Veither. the socketsor the walls of the openings. Y' Y,

The openings I4 as shown, have plane side or circumferentially spacedwalls which areradial,A and arcuate inner and outer or radially spacedvWalls. We have considered other shapes for these openings, .=such as'circular n'parailelogramic with innerfandouter walls rperpendicular .tothe initial torciue.yecto`r,z andA although the. llatterfan'd otherforms :would Vnot 'depart f'from our vinven-` tion, yet/wev 'preferthe^`formfshown.

v.the fore'going t it is 'obvious ithat i the rub` ber :will :"absorb'or dampen torsional kvibrations between 'the driving'and drivenI'members and more specifically between the plates P and 'the liange lF., beca'useall torque, 'forward lor i back- Y WardJnust passthroughtheirubber.

The simplicity-.odour fas'sembleii .fhubbed vele'- mentyas seen inFig.i1, makesit: arseparate subassembly of the "wh'ole'plutch YplateVandzmalies'ior ready, easy *and l-economical f'manuiacture Other =`fo1:rn's"may be employed Iembodying i the features of ourinventionfinsteadfof those herein explained, r:change ".'beingV made Ainythe .form 'or construction, p'roVide'd the elements stated Yby any 'ofthefollowing claims "o'rthe er'iuivalentv of such stated eiements beemployed.

We "therefore particularly "point l out rand distinctly claim as" ourinvention:

1l. vA fclutchfp1ate= comprisiiig^a hubbed element presenting aperipheral fiangehaving openings therein, the inner iand Y'outerlWallsof said openings beingfarcuate,v sockets inovablydi'sposed in saidopenings vandextending:substantially to said walls, rubber `in=each of4said openings Vand dis-v posed on beth -sidesof said sockets andentend` ing substantially therefrom tothe side walls of each f saidopenings, andafriction plate driven Vby said sockets V'wherebytorsionalVibrations be-V tween said element and said friction plate are Ydampened by said rubber. Y

If desired, the rubberl may be vulcan- 2. A clutchV platecompn'sin-gantbed dement s presenting a peripheral ange'havihg openingstherein, leach openin'grpresenting two radially spaced walls and twocircumierentiallyvspaced Walls, sockets, one` socket being movablydisposed in each of said openingsand'extending substan` tially thedistance between the two radially spacedr'walls of each of saidopenings, resilient material on bothsides of each of said 'sockets andextending therefrom to the two circumferentially spaced walls f each 'of'said openings'there' being more resiliency of one side o'f' each ofAsaid sockets than on the other side of 'said sockets, and/a fricing wallof said opening;

tion plate drivingly connected to said sockets whereby torsionalvibrations between said flange and .said friction plate are dampened bysaid material and the normally driven side of said sockets dampenstorsional vibrations to a greater degree than the other side of saidsockets.

3. In a clutch, a hub member having'a radially extending section,saidsection having an opening therein; a resilient body in saidiopening, one

edge of said body abutting a radially extenda member in said opening,said member comprising a central portion and web-like portions extendingon oppo-V sitesides of said centralfportion, said Web-like resilientbody may vbe compressed between said member -andsaidwall of the openingby torsional stressxbetween said member and hub; a plate and means forsecuring said plate to said central portion 'of saidrrnemb'er. 4; 'In aclutch, a hub'rnexnber` havingra? radially extending section,l said.section having varrepening therein; 'a pair of resilient *bodies 2insaid opening, one edge voffene of -fsai'd 'bodies abutting a radiallyextending wall of said openingfand one edge `of fthe other of'saidbodieseabiittingthe opposite radially Aextendinig `wall o'fsaidopening, `said bodies having confronting, fradiallyf extentiing edges;an element disposed in saidfopening and intermediate said 'resilientbodies', Said f lement including a kcentral"portion andiweblli-kfeportions extending onfopposite sides 'df Y saidf'ceiivtrai portion 'andradially in said opening 'with respect to the'hub,sainrfweblnkefpcrtions beine resiliently engaged byr" id confrontingfed'gs #of said resilient bodies; af plate; and xneans ier eennectingsaid plate with th-jc'entral portieri o'f said element. v A

"5. "In a clutch,a hub memberhavinga radially extending section, '-'saidsection having aii- 'opening therein; 'a pair of tresilient"bddiesinzsaid opening, one 'ed'gefof onefof 'sid'bediesjabllt'ting a radiallyextending wallof sai "o'pei'iing'y ndfon'e edge of the other 'Ofs'fdbolies-blitti'gfthe opposite radially 'extending wall vof 'saidopening, said bodies having confronting, radially fexte'nd ring edgesjanelement rioni'pisi'ngjtiwolcomple` mentary memberseach having vaserni-cylindrical section at `the `centralportion thereof and' web-likeportions extending ,iin opposite-directions Vfroml said 4centralportion,'said :members being disposed intermediate said resilient I h'ddies withtherwe'b-like portions'offone inember'=abt `ting one ofsaid'c'o'11frontini ;,r edges 6i-'said' bodies and the web-like portions'of :the other fof Y'said members 'abutting' the other Aof VsaidconfrontingA edges of said'resilient"bodiesfsaid members'bei gyieldingly retained in abuttingfrelation by *sa-id resilient `bodiesan'd "disposed vwith said `semi- Y a pin extending through vsaid tubularY

